12 Air Fryer Thanksgiving Desserts

An air fryer is a secret weapon on Thanksgiving Day, giving you a small, fast second oven for dessert while the main oven handles the turkey and sides. These recipes are sized for a basket or a small pan, bake in minutes and come out golden, crisp and warm.

You’ll find hand pies and mini pies, baked apples and roasted pears, crumbles, brownies, cookies and a few fun treats like biscuit donuts and churro twists. Air fryers vary in size and power, so start checking a few minutes early and work in batches so the hot air can circulate.

1. Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies

Flaky store-bought pie crust wrapped around a quick cinnamon apple filling crisps up beautifully in the air fryer in about 10 minutes. They’re easy to eat by hand and perfect for a casual dessert spread.

Servings: 8

Total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 apples, peeled, cored and finely diced
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

For the pies:

• 1 (14-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts)
• 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon coarse sugar

Instructions

1. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, add the apples, brown sugar and cinnamon and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until tender. Stir in the cornstarch and lemon juice, cook for 1 minute and let cool.
2. Cut 8 rounds about 4 inches across from the crusts, rerolling the scraps as needed.
3. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of filling onto half of each round, fold over and crimp with a fork. Cut a small slit in each, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
4. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) in a single layer on a perforated parchment liner for 9 to 12 minutes, until golden. Work in batches and cool for 10 minutes before serving.

2. Air Fryer Mini Pumpkin Pies

Store-bought pie crust pressed into silicone muffin cups holds a creamy spiced pumpkin filling for individual pies that bake in about 20 minutes. They’re the perfect size for a small gathering.

Servings: 6

Total time: 40 minutes, plus cooling

Ingredients

• 1 refrigerated pie crust
• 3/4 cup pure pumpkin purée
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• Pinch of kosher salt
• Whipped cream, for serving

Instructions

1. Cut 6 rounds about 4 inches across from the crust and press into 6 silicone muffin cups, crimping the edges.
2. Whisk the pumpkin, brown sugar, egg, evaporated milk, pumpkin pie spice and salt until smooth, and divide among the crusts.
3. Set the cups in the air fryer basket and air fry at 300°F (150°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, until the filling is set and reads 160°F (71°C).
4. Cool for 15 minutes, unmold and serve with whipped cream.

3. Air Fryer Baked Apples with Oat Crumble

Apple halves topped with a buttery oat and pecan crumble turn tender and golden in the air fryer in under 20 minutes. Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Servings: 4

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 large apples, such as Honeycrisp, halved and cored
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
• Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Instructions

1. Scoop out a little extra flesh from each apple half to make a deeper well and brush the cut sides with the melted butter.
2. Rub the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and cold butter together until clumpy, then stir in the pecans.
3. Pack the crumble into the apples and set them in the air fryer basket.
4. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, until the apples are tender and the topping is golden, covering loosely with foil if it browns too fast.
5. Serve warm with ice cream.

4. Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Biscuit Donuts

Refrigerated biscuits become fluffy little donuts in about 6 minutes in the air fryer, then get brushed with butter and tossed in cinnamon sugar. They’re a fun, quick treat that kids love to help make.

Servings: 8

Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 (16.3-ounce) can refrigerated flaky biscuits (8 biscuits)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Cut a 1-inch hole from the center of each biscuit with a small round cutter.
2. Air fry the donuts at 350°F (175°C) in a single layer for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through. Air fry the holes for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
4. Brush the warm donuts and holes with melted butter and toss in the cinnamon sugar. Serve warm.

5. Air Fryer Pecan Pie Bites

Mini phyllo shells filled with chopped pecans and a quick brown sugar custard bake into crisp, two-bite pecan pies in about 10 minutes. They’re a smart way to get pecan pie on the table without a full pie.

Servings: 15 bites

Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 (1.9-ounce) package frozen mini phyllo shells (15 shells)
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• Pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

1. Divide the pecans among the phyllo shells.
2. Whisk the brown sugar, maple syrup, egg, butter and salt and spoon over the pecans, filling the shells just below the rims.
3. Arrange in the air fryer basket and air fry at 300°F (150°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, until the filling is set and reads 160°F (71°C).
4. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

6. Air Fryer Chocolate Pudding Cakes

These little self-saucing cakes bake in ramekins with a tender chocolate top and a glossy fudge sauce underneath, all without eggs. They’re ready in about 25 minutes and best served warm.

Servings: 4

Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

For the cakes:

• Butter, for the ramekins
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the sauce:

• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup very hot water
• Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Instructions

1. Butter four 6-ounce ramekins.
2. Whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt, then stir in the milk and melted butter. Divide among the ramekins.
3. Mix the brown sugar and cocoa, sprinkle over the batter, then carefully pour 2 tablespoons hot water over each without stirring.
4. Air fry at 325°F (165°C) for 12 to 15 minutes, until the tops are cakey and the sauce bubbles at the edges.
5. Let stand for 5 minutes, dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve warm.

7. Air Fryer Maple Roasted Pears

Pear halves brushed with butter and maple syrup roast in the air fryer until tender and caramelized, then get a sprinkle of toasted pecans. It’s a light, elegant dessert that takes about 15 minutes.

Servings: 4

Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 ripe but firm Bosc pears, halved and cored
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
• Greek yogurt or vanilla ice cream, for serving

Instructions

1. Brush the cut sides of the pears with the melted butter and 1 tablespoon of the maple syrup and sprinkle with the cinnamon.
2. Air fry cut side up at 375°F (190°C) for 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Sprinkle with the pecans, drizzle with the remaining maple syrup and air fry for 2 to 3 minutes more, until tender and caramelized.
4. Serve warm with yogurt or ice cream.

8. Air Fryer Pumpkin Spice Churro Twists

Strips of puff pastry twist and puff in the air fryer, then get rolled in pumpkin spice sugar for a crisp, churro-like treat. Serve them with chocolate or caramel sauce for dipping.

Servings: 6 (12 twists)

Total time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• Chocolate or caramel sauce, for dipping

Instructions

1. Cut the pastry into 12 strips about 3/4 inch wide and twist each one several times.
2. Air fry in a single layer at 360°F (180°C) for 6 to 8 minutes, until puffed and golden. Work in batches.
3. Mix the sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Brush the warm twists with the melted butter and roll them in the spiced sugar.
4. Serve warm with chocolate or caramel sauce.

9. Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

A small batch of chewy, golden chocolate chip cookies bakes in the air fryer in about 7 minutes per round, so you can make fresh cookies while the oven is busy. Add chopped pecans for a Thanksgiving touch.

Servings: about 20 cookies

Total time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions

1. Beat the butter and both sugars until creamy, then beat in the egg.
2. Stir in the flour, baking soda and salt, then fold in the chocolate chips and pecans, if using.
3. Line the air fryer basket with parchment and place 1 1/2-tablespoon scoops 2 inches apart, about 6 at a time.
4. Air fry at 320°F (160°C) for 6 to 8 minutes, until golden at the edges. Cool in the basket for 3 minutes, then transfer to a rack.

10. Air Fryer Mini Cranberry Crumbles

Tart cranberries and sweet pear bubble under a golden oat topping in individual ramekins, ready in about 20 minutes. They make a bright, cheerful single-serving dessert.

Servings: 4

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 ripe pear, peeled, cored and diced
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest

For the topping:

• 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced

Instructions

1. Toss the cranberries, pear, sugar, cornstarch and orange zest and divide among four 6-ounce ramekins.
2. Rub the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter together until clumpy and sprinkle over the fruit.
3. Cover the ramekins loosely with foil and air fry at 330°F (165°C) for 8 minutes. Uncover and air fry for 7 to 10 minutes more, until bubbling and golden.
4. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

11. Air Fryer Fudgy Brownies

A small pan of rich, fudgy brownies with crackly tops bakes in the air fryer in about 20 minutes. It’s an easy chocolate fix when the oven is full of Thanksgiving sides.

Servings: 9

Total time: 35 minutes, plus cooling

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Line a 7-inch square or round pan that fits in your air fryer with parchment paper.
2. Whisk the melted butter and sugar, then whisk in the eggs. Stir in the cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt, then fold in the chocolate chips.
3. Spread in the pan and air fry at 320°F (160°C) for 18 to 22 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
4. Cool completely before cutting into 9 squares.

12. Air Fryer Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Gingersnap crusts topped with a creamy spiced pumpkin cheesecake filling bake in muffin cups in the air fryer in about 15 minutes. Chill them for a couple of hours and top with whipped cream.

Servings: 6

Total time: 30 minutes, plus chilling

Ingredients

For the crust:

• 1/2 cup gingersnap crumbs
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup pure pumpkin purée
• 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• Whipped cream, for serving

Instructions

1. Set 6 foil or silicone muffin cups (double up paper liners) in the air fryer basket. Mix the gingersnap crumbs and butter and press a spoonful into each.
2. Beat the cream cheese until smooth, then beat in the pumpkin, brown sugar, egg and pumpkin pie spice. Divide among the cups.
3. Air fry at 300°F (150°C) for 12 to 15 minutes, until the edges are set, the centers jiggle slightly and they read 160°F (71°C).
4. Cool for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Top with whipped cream before serving.